Arthur stood before Ake's apartment, staring resolutely at the door, his heart pounding with determination. The glass tower loomed over the city like an imposing monument, stark and cold. Today, he wasn't here to discuss business. He had decided to confront the truth.
When Ake opened the door, his usual charming smile faltered as he noticed the seriousness in Arthur's expression.
"Arthur," Ake said softly, stepping aside. "Come in."
Arthur remained still, his chest constricted as if inhaling stones. "We need to talk."
Ake's face twisted in surprise, but he let Arthur stride into the spacious living room. The shimmering city skyline below contrasted with the emptiness that filled the space. The weight of their unspoken truths hung heavily in the air, urging Arthur to confront what he had long avoided.
"I think it's time to end the game," he declared, his voice steady and firm. "The fake relationship, the pretense—it's all got to stop."
Ake stood before him, astonished. "Arthur, you're not over Nick. You know I agreed to this—"
"I'm not asking you to understand," Arthur cut in, his voice sharper than intended. "I used you to get him back in town, and I'm not willing to let it go any further. I need us to stop. No more pretending. You deserve someone who wants you, not a shadow of someone else."
Ake's eyes darkened, yet a calm acceptance washed over him. "I knew this was coming. I've prepared myself for this moment."
Arthur stepped closer, guilt twisting in his chest. "I'm sorry, Ake. I never wanted to hurt you, but I can't keep lying to him—or to you. You deserve better."
For a moment, silence enveloped them, the weight of Arthur's words settling like a heavy mist.
Finally, Ake nodded. "I guess this is goodbye then."
Arthur felt a pang in his heart, but it wasn't for Ake. It was the realization that the person he truly desired was still out there, and he had to face the consequences of his own actions first.
"Yes, Ake. It's goodbye for now, but we can still be friends. I hope you find someone worthy of you, because you deserve that," Arthur said quietly, moving toward the door.
Nick had spent days planning this moment—it was finally time to act. He couldn't afford to lose Arthur because of his own fears. No more excuses; he was ready to step up and reclaim what mattered most.
Standing in the campus courtyard, poised for the big event, Nick felt the air thick with anticipation. He knew Arthur had no idea what awaited him.
When Arthur arrived, his cautious gaze swept the area, and Nick's heart raced. For a brief moment, time stood still—it was just him and Arthur, everything else fading into oblivion.
"Arthur," Nick said, taking a deep breath, stepping forward with purpose.
Arthur halted, looking up with an expression that revealed nothing. "What are you doing here, Nick?"
Instead of answering immediately, Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, offering it to Arthur.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "What is this?"
"Open it," Nick urged, his voice steady and sincere. "I know I messed up. I hurt you. But I'm here to show you that I can change. I will always choose you, no matter the cost. If you have even a fraction of your heart left for me, I'll spend my life earning your trust back."
Arthur opened the box slowly to reveal a delicate silver necklace with a heart-shaped pendant—one he had given Nick in their youth. Memories flooded back, rekindling the warmth and love they once shared before everything fell apart.
"I never stopped loving you, Arthur," Nick continued, his voice steady despite the tremor of emotion. "I've been a coward, but I won't hide anymore. Without you, I've realized I'm nothing. Let me prove that I've changed. I'm ready to fight for us, for you."
Arthur's breath caught as a whirlwind of emotions surged through him. He wanted to run, to escape these feelings—but he also wanted this, wanted Nick.
"Nick…" Arthur's voice trembled as he struggled for composure. "You don't get it. You broke me."
"I know," Nick admitted, stepping closer. "But I want to fix this. I want to build with you, no matter how long it takes."
Arthur shook his head, tears brimming in his eyes. "You walked away from me. You didn't trust me."
"I was foolish," Nick replied, his voice heavy with regret. "But I've realized that our love is worth fighting for."Arthur stood before Ake's apartment, staring resolutely at the door, his heart pounding with determination. The glass tower loomed over the city like an imposing monument, stark and cold. Today, he wasn't here to discuss business. He had decided to confront the truth.
When Ake opened the door, his usual charming smile faltered as he noticed the seriousness in Arthur's expression.
"Arthur," Ake said softly, stepping aside. "Come in."
Arthur remained still, his chest constricted as if inhaling stones. "We need to talk."
Ake's face twisted in surprise, but he let Arthur stride into the spacious living room. The shimmering city skyline below contrasted with the emptiness that filled the space. The weight of their unspoken truths hung heavily in the air, urging Arthur to confront what he had long avoided.
"I think it's time to end the game," he declared, his voice steady and firm. "The fake relationship, the pretense—it's all got to stop."
Ake stood before him, astonished. "Arthur, you're not over Nick. You know I agreed to this—"
"I'm not asking you to understand," Arthur cut in, his voice sharper than intended. "I used you to get him back in town, and I'm not willing to let it go any further. I need us to stop. No more pretending. You deserve someone who wants you, not a shadow of someone else."
Ake's eyes darkened, yet a calm acceptance washed over him. "I knew this was coming. I've prepared myself for this moment."
Arthur stepped closer, guilt twisting in his chest. "I'm sorry, Ake. I never wanted to hurt you, but I can't keep lying to him—or to you. You deserve better."
For a moment, silence enveloped them, the weight of Arthur's words settling like a heavy mist.
Finally, Ake nodded. "I guess this is goodbye then."
Arthur felt a pang in his heart, but it wasn't for Ake. It was the realization that the person he truly desired was still out there, and he had to face the consequences of his own actions first.
"Yes, Ake. It's goodbye for now, but we can still be friends. I hope you find someone worthy of you, because you deserve that," Arthur said quietly, moving toward the door.
Nick had spent days planning this moment—it was finally time to act. He couldn't afford to lose Arthur because of his own fears. No more excuses; he was ready to step up and reclaim what mattered most.
Standing in the campus courtyard, poised for the big event, Nick felt the air thick with anticipation. He knew Arthur had no idea what awaited him.
When Arthur arrived, his cautious gaze swept the area, and Nick's heart raced. For a brief moment, time stood still—it was just him and Arthur, everything else fading into oblivion.
"Arthur," Nick said, taking a deep breath, stepping forward with purpose.
Arthur halted, looking up with an expression that revealed nothing. "What are you doing here, Nick?"
Instead of answering immediately, Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, offering it to Arthur.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "What is this?"
"Open it," Nick urged, his voice steady and sincere. "I know I messed up. I hurt you. But I'm here to show you that I can change. I will always choose you, no matter the cost. If you have even a fraction of your heart left for me, I'll spend my life earning your trust back."
Arthur opened the box slowly to reveal a delicate silver necklace with a heart-shaped pendant—one he had given Nick in their youth. Memories flooded back, rekindling the warmth and love they once shared before everything fell apart.
"I never stopped loving you, Arthur," Nick continued, his voice steady despite the tremor of emotion. "I've been a coward, but I won't hide anymore. Without you, I've realized I'm nothing. Let me prove that I've changed. I'm ready to fight for us, for you."
Arthur's breath caught as a whirlwind of emotions surged through him. He wanted to run, to escape these feelings—but he also wanted this, wanted Nick.
"Nick…" Arthur's voice trembled as he struggled for composure. "You don't get it. You broke me."
"I know," Nick admitted, stepping closer. "But I want to fix this. I want to build with you, no matter how long it takes."
Arthur shook his head, tears brimming in his eyes. "You walked away from me. You didn't trust me."
"I was foolish," Nick replied, his voice heavy with regret. "But I've realized that our love is worth fighting for."